Gary Neville says one Man City player has not got going vs Arsenal
Jeremy Doku came in for criticism from Gary Neville during a subdued first half of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final meeting with Arsenal, with the Belgian winger struggling to make his usual impact in a game that took a long time to properly spark into life.
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For all City’s territorial control in spells, particularly later in the opening period, Pep Guardiola’s side lacked incision in the final third and the 23-year-old was one of several attacking players who found it difficult to impose himself at Wembley.
What Gary Neville said about Jeremy Doku
Speaking on Sky Sports via BBC Sport, Neville suggested Doku was well below the level normally associated with his one-v-one threat.
“Doku has not quite been able to get going. Ordinarily, he’s a nightmare to play against one on one.”
It was a fair observation in the context of a half in which Arsenal appeared determined to crowd the City wide man out of dangerous areas, with Mikel Arteta’s side often doubling up and forcing the former Rennes attacker backwards rather than letting him drive directly at defenders.
That naturally blunted one of City’s most unpredictable attacking weapons, and it contributed to a first half that was more tense than entertaining despite the significance of the occasion.
Arsenal’s plan limited one of City’s main attacking threats
The Gunners started the stronger of the two sides and created the clearest opening of the first half, with Kai Havertz denied by James Trafford, but City gradually took more control in the first 45 without ever looking especially convincing in the final third.
That made Doku’s lack of influence stand out even more, especially given that Antoine Semenyo looked the sharper threat on the opposite flank and Erling Haaland was feeding on scraps for much of the contest.
The Belgium international has been linked with a possible Manchester City exit this summer amid interest from Atletico Madrid, and while that remains one for the months ahead, this wasn’t the kind of display that will quieten debate about his long-term place in Guardiola’s plans.
With Ruben Dias also missing the final through injury, City were already dealing with disruption before kick-off, and they needed their attacking players to provide the edge that their reshuffled side lacked elsewhere.
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